Fighting To End HIV And TB Infections Worldwide

A health care worker in Zimbabwe showcases anti-retroviral (ARV) pills that are given to patients testing HIV positive.

Credit Flickr Photo/DFID - UK Department For International Development

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Access to HIV and TB treatment has been improving worldwide. The rate of new infections is going down. But tuberculosis remains deadly, especially for the poverty stricken — TB killed 1.4 million people in 2011. Luwiza Makukula was diagnosed with HIV and TB after her husband died in 2001. Not only was she sick, she was completely isolated. Today, she works with NGOs focused on treatment, care, and support for HIV/TB patients, including Zambia's Community Initiative for TB, HIV/AIDS and Malaria (CITAM+). Luwiza Makukula joins us.

Also this hour: IKEA's Swedish meatballs are the latest product to be swept up in an expanding European food-labeling scandal. Author and nutrition expert Marion Nestle joins us to explain how horsemeat wound up on the menu. Then, unless a deal is reached, many federal programs face imminent across-the-board spending cuts. Democratic Congressman Denny Heck of Washington's 10th District joins us to talk about the impact that sequestration would have in South Puget Sound. Plus, Michael Fagin joins us with a hike to match the week's weather.